Have you seen the new “Born from Invincible” commercial for the 2022 Toyota Tundra? It’s very inspiring and powerful. It features a homage to Tundra models from yesteryear and then culminates with the all-new Tundra. Another element that makes the commercial inspiring is its beautiful music. Do you know the name of the song in the ad?

Remix of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ song in 2022 Toyota Tundra commercial

The 2022 Toyota Tundra “Born from Invincible” commercial features a remix of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” song. The remix repeatedly incorporates the lines “It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life for me.” Considering that the redesigned 2022 Tundra is a new chapter in the history of the pickup truck, the lines are very fitting. 

However, considering the common demographic of pickup truck buyers, the use of a song by Simone, a jazz and blues singer, and a civil rights activist, is an interesting choice. Perhaps Toyota is trying to appeal to a broader audience with the commercial.

“Feeling Good,” also known as “Feelin’ Good,” appeared on Simone’s 1965 album, I Put a Spell on You. Initially, the song did not release as a single. Ironically, it was another car commercial, a Volkswagen ad in the United Kingdom, that helped increase the popularity of “Feeling Good.” As a result, the song was released as a single in 1994, reaching No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart. Hopefully, the Tundra ad provides renewed interest in “Feeling Good,” for this beautiful song, as well as Nina Simone, deserves more attention and respect. 

A beautiful new music video for ‘Feeling Good’

“Feeling Good” was originally written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. Many other artists did cover versions of the song, including Sammy Davis Jr., John Coltrane, Michael Bublé, Traffic, Bassnectar, and Lauryn Hill. Also, during the Celebrating America event for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, John Legend performed “Feeling Good.”

Earlier this year, a cool music video of “Feeling Good” debuted. The music video is a wonderful tribute to the song and the civil rights legacy of Nina Simone. With footage of four generations of black women, the music video tells the story of black female empowerment. Also, considering that Simone challenged racial and gender boundaries, the video’s depiction of rejecting imposed expectations is a fitting tribute. 

‘Born from Invincible’ TV spot is part of a big marketing push for the 2022 Toyota Tundra

Back to the land of commerce, the ‘Born from Invincible’ ad marks the start of a huge marking push for the 2022 Toyota Tundra. It first aired on NBC Sunday Night Football on September 19, 2021. Considering that Sunday Night Football is typically one of the highest-rated broadcasts of the week, the ad undoubtedly did not come cheap for Toyota.

Whether or not a beautiful song from an iconic and beloved artist like Nina Simone should be used in a commercial is a longer conversation for another time. Nonetheless, some good could come out of the ad if it enables newer generations to discover the music of Simone and her impact on the civil rights movement.